With mineral exploration on the downswing communities are turning to the next booming market in the territory, namely tourism.
While tourism will likely never match the economic power of the resource sector, it's an important spoke in the economic wheel. The more avenues for economic growth, the better the territory can weather a drop in mining activity. It also doesn't hurt that tourism generally has little impact on the environment.
Recent numbers from NWT Tourism saw 108,480 visitors travelling to the territory in fiscal year 2016-2017 while spending $201.4 million.
Techi?q Ltd., the business arm of the Deline Got'ine government, saw an opportunity with those numbers and recently signed a deal with tour operator Beijing Best Tour Company in China. The two companies expect visiting tourists to inject $650,000 a year into the small fly-in community economy. The figure will likely grow if Chinese visitors like the experience and Deline residents like having them there.
The reality is that Deline is in for a cultural shock. Some tourists, especially those from larger cities, are bound to be rude and have expectations for service that Northerners living in smaller communities are not typically accustomed to.
A bumpy snowmobile ride on Great Bear Lake – nothing unusual for people who have grown up around snowmobiles -- might be an unwelcome experience for a tourist used to travelling in comfort. Likewise, people in this small, traditional community of less than 500 will have to get used to more strangers in their midst – taking pictures, asking directions, peering into people's yards.
With up to 600 Chinese tourists visiting each year – 24 per week – there are bound to be conflicts and misunderstandings.
Techi?q CEO Bob Gill says most of the village will be working when the tourists come so training – not just on how to conduct day-to-day tourism activities but on how to deal with tourists and managing their expectations – will be key.
In places such as Gjoa Haven, a once all but impossible place for tourists to visit but now a popular stop on Northwest Passage cruise-line tours, tourism has been buoyed by interest in the lost Franklin expedition.
Bill Lyall, former chairman of Nunavut Tourism, said in 2005 that building around such attractions require tours to be planned down to the minute if tourism operators hopes to attract larger, more lucrative groups. When it comes to marketing Nunavut as a destination, he said it's not enough to send out the message that the territory is a wonderful place to see.
"We need something under that big blue sky that pushes potential tourists directly to the operators," said Lyall. "If it's too hard for people to figure out who to call, they'll lose interest and go somewhere else."
On that front, it appear that Techi?q has done its homework. Now it just has to ensure the tours are as positive an experience as possible for tourists and residents alike.
The tours from China, if managed properly, present a unique opportunity – not only for Deline but other northern communities – that offers something to the world at large that heavily populated places, even Yellowknife, doesn't have – pristine wilderness and authentic cultural experiences.
As the world becomes more globalized, the demand for visits to northern destinations will increase. Northern communities best prepare as the outside world comes calling.